State-highway guard fence



Jan. 7, 1930. R G wlLLlAMsv 1,742,838

STATE HIGHWAY GUARD FENCE Filed March 727I 1929 fezl- :Fl-EEE.-

2/ /1 AQ l 5 NRM if /l [770677/07 /9 7 J//orney Patented 7, l

- UNITED, sTATr-:fs PArENTf-orrlca ROLLAND G. WILLIAMS, F RANFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB T0 HALLEAIBLE IRON FITTINGS COMPANY, CUT

Application led Iarch`27, 1929. Serial No.' 350,391.

This invention has reference to guard fences for state highways, but particularly refers-to a fixture through which a fence cable passes and is suitably clamped therein, and

furthermore refers to the manner in which said fixture is secured to the fence post.'

The object of the invention-'is'to secure the fixtures immovably to the fence posts, and to so clamp the cables, whichare used instead of rigid fence rails, that they will slip through the clamps when a heavy object has plunged against said cables.

IOther objects Will-be apparent from a reading of the subjoined description and the accompanying drawings which latter show an approved form of the inventionA In these drawings Figure 1 is an elevation showing the invention applied to a single post'and cable, and viewed from the roadway.

' Figure 2, is a plan view of the construction ure 1.

Figure El is an inside view of the fixture as it appears free from the post and with the clamping wedge removed.

Figures 5 and 6 are detail elevations showing opposite faces of the clamping wedge, and

Figure 7 is a section at line 7 7 of Fig" merals of reference will be used to`designate like parts in the several figures of the draw- In the first place attention is called to the fact thatwire cables are 'used in the construction of the fence pro er, so that the latter may yield when struck automobile, this, yielding causing the cables to slip more or less through their clamps and to thus appreciably relieve the posts of undue strain.

It will be understood that the carry two, three or more of these ca les properly spaced and held by separate clamping fixtures that arefixed to said posts, this being the usual manner in which guard fences are constructed, but as this is a mere duplication,

The clamp fixture y a heavy body, as. an

osts will the drawings show and the description willa single post, fixture and cable.

OF BRANFOBD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTI- Ybe limited to a unit ofthe fence comprising 1 is the post which is made of ironvor steel l' and is shaped like a railroad rail in cross section with a comparativelywide flange or face 2,- a comparatively narrow face .3 and a connecting web 4.

This post is anchored-inthe ground in any suitable mannenwith the part 2 facing the roadway. f f y vis composed of two like members 5 that have recessed portions' 6` shaped to conform to the side flanges of the'y face 2, and lthe fixture is applied to" these flanges so as to house the latter as shown at Figures 2 and 3.

These members 5 have floors 7 whose inner edges are spaced apart and' havelraised portions 8, and extending laterally from the middle of these portions are short nubs 9.

10 generally denotes a clampingwedge having along one'face ribs 11 that `are inclined from the' outer ends so as to gradually ap- Y proach each other, while Several arallel ri 12 extend from the opposite ace of this wedge. L

' After the members`5 have been-,positioned on the Iianges of the face 2, the wed e 10 is driven between the main body of this ace and the floors 7 with the ribs 11 straddling the portions 8, and said ribs will engage the nubs 9 and thereby draw the members 5 toward each other so as to cause the inner walls of the recesses 6 to bind'frmly against the ends of the part 2.

"The inner ends of the ribs 12 are chamfered as shown at' 13, and, as the wedge is driven in the manner above described, these ends 13 will act like cams and will causethe members 5 to bind with great'force 'against the post.

It is preferred to serrato the ribs llas shown at 14 in order to effectively prevent slipping backward. Y l

The operation just described will b'e readily understood by referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, and it will be clear that this wedge will function to bind the members to the post in all directions. It will, of course, be clear thatwhen the members 5 are positionedl on the post they will be spaced apart, substantially as shown at Figure 4, this space be# ing denoted by the numeral 15, and that such space will be somewhat decreased, after the wedge has' been driven, as shown at Figures 1, 2. 3, and 7.,

' The bases of the members are conformed to the cable 16, and an outer or complementary 4clamping bar 17 conformed to the cable has straps 18 passed therearound with `bolts 19 integral with these straps and extending through said bases, and nuts 20 are driven on thesebolts whereby the cable 'is-clamped to the fixture.

This clamping ofthe cable, while suilicient to hold the cable firmly under ordinary pres- I sure or'shocks, will permit the cable to slip through the clamp when the cable is struc violently and with great force, as by an auto-v mobile, and thus relieve the adjacent posts fromL undue strain.

Since'this clamping of the cable is modified, the clamping bar 17 is not` absolutely necessary, since the straps 18 will hold the cable sufliciently firm. In fact, this invention is not to be identified with any specific means for clamping to the cable, and it is therefore merely necessary that clamping means of some sort be utilized for this purpose.

What is 'claimed is 1. In a guard fence for highways, a metal.

post having flanged parts, separate clampin members having'recesses that embrace sai parts and having floors whose -inner edges are spaced and formed with raised vortions with shortnubs ,extending laterally rom the middle of -said portions, a wedge member having on one face inclined ribs, and on the other face straight chamfered ribs, said inclined ribs ada ted to engage said nubs and said straight ri s adapted to engage saidpost when the wedge is driven in positlon', a cable, and means for clamping the bases of said members to said cable.

2. Ina guard fence for highwa s, a post having a flat portion facing the hig way and terminating in lateral flanges,I separateclamping members having recesses that embrace said flanges with` said members `in spaced. relation, Ycooperatin lWedge appliances for binding said memers to the vpost in all directions, a cable, and means for clamping the bases of'said members to saidcab1e. v 4. l In testimony whereof I ailix my signature hereto.

ROLLAND G. WILLIAMS. 

